This Study Guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more -
everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Theory of the Leisure Class.

Industrial Exemption and Conservatism Summary and Analysis

In this chapter Veblen is applying the principles of Darwin to society and its social structure. Man struggles for existence in society and survives by the process of selective adaptation. Social structure has evolved by the process of natural selection of institutions. The fittest of habits survive as society changes. The institutions that shape the thoughts are the result of the natural selection process themselves. As the institutions change, there is a new selection of the fittest which leads to the adaptation in habits and thoughts, and this leads to new institutions.

The existing institutions will always favor the propagation on a particular type of individual because he promotes the institution itself. But the adaptive process means that change occurs in the institutions. If the institutions don't adapt and change, they will cease to exist...